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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 213, 9 September 1870, Page 4

Yankee Ingenuity. — A genuine Yankee at Lisbon, Connecticut, who wanted to put a water-pipe through a draiu several feet below the surface without digging up the drain, tied a string to a cat's leg, thrust her into one end of the drain, and giving a terrific "scat" the feline quickly appeared at the other end. The pipe was drawn through the drain by means of the line, and an expense of ten dollars saved by the operation. A Contemporary says : — " Twentyseven millions of francs won on oue bet ! The Duke of Hamilton is tbe lucky mortal. He wins twenty francs on each vote above six millions given for the Emperor in the plebiscitum from the members of the Jockey Club ; the befc was as follows : — The Duke to pay to the members of the club two louis to every vote under six millions, and to receive oue louis for every vote above that number. And he won. Lunar Phenomena. — For a considerable period, astronomers have been engaged in photogramming aud mapping out the moon's surface, with a view of detecting any change in its appearance. During the present year, there has been observed an extensive cleft or ravine, which has lengthened slowly until joined by others ; and it is now stated that a small volcano, tbe orifice of its crater not exceeding a second in diameter, is now in action. After twenty- four hours solar illumination, a white cloud is seen surrounding the mountain. Taking Time by the Forelock. — A New Orleans policeman, before light the other morning, came upon a stranger pacing before the Station-house, and on enquiry found tbat he had been doing the game all night, waiting for a lady. " She's a good while in comiug, ain't she ?" said the officer. "Yes, but the poor tbing ain't to blame ; they've got her locked up there," pointing to the station-house, "and as soon as she gets out we're going to get married. She's got a lottery ticket, and I found out last night that it had drawn a pile. She's no idea of it, you know." Tiie Fashion in Tyrolese Hats. — The Pall Mall Gazette says : — The Tyrolese bats, which some gentlemen have taken to, are now ornamented with pheasants' feather3, parrots' wings, and humming birds' heads. For mourning, blackbirds or ravens ; for half-mourning, swallows or magpies are worn. Oue enterprising hatter has contrived to fit these adornments with an apparatus for imitating the cry of the bird selected as an appendage. A slight movement of the forehead is sufficient to set the little machine in movement. It is, therefore, unnecessary to take off the hat on meeting a friend — you frown or elevate the brow — the bird screams, and this constitutes a greeting. Who is to be the new Minister of Public Works is a question much talked of. The Hod. Colonel Eussell is believed lo be casting longing eyes towards the office, road-making and office being two of his hobbies ; but it is not likely that anyone in the Upper House, or outside the Lower one, will be appointed. It is also probable that a Middle Island man will be preferred, and the general impression is, that if Mr. Dillon Bell returns in time he will be entrusted with the portfolio. Some people have whispered the name of Mr. Macandrew, but the idea of entrusting the expenditure of a million or two per anuum to that gentleman would not be very highly approved of, and the mere mention of such a thing would seal the fate of both Ministry and scheme. — Grey River Argus.